Inflatable ball



Sept. 7 1926.

1,598,757 A. J. TURNER INFLATABLE BALL Original Filed April 20, 1925 3 72 1/672 fan arc/zzfiaiazfllzrlmr 4 wow A 16 (A i Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES ABCHIBALD J. TURNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO WILSON-WESTERN SPORTING GOODS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOI S, A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE.

INFLATABLE BALL.

Original application filed April 20, 1925, Serial No. 24,337. Divided and this application filed May 27,

1926. Serial m. 111,911.

My invention relates to inflatable balls and is concerned with the provision of improvements relating to the bladder insertion opening of such a ball and to the means for closing such opening.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 24,337, filed April 20, 1925.

The improvements which characterize the invention herein described and subsequently claimed are admirably adapted for use in an inflatable ball which includes a bladder provided with a valve stem supported by and in the cover in such a way that the ball maybe inflated after the bladder insertion opening is closed.

Generally speaking, the present invention provides an inflatable ball provided with a bladder insertion opening closing means, which isso constructed that such closing means is or may be practically invisible when the ball is inflated and ready for play.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an elevational view of a' basketball embodying the improvements of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary interior view of the parts of the ball with which my invention is particularly concerned; and

Figure 1 is an isolated sectional view of the resilient member which, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, supports and cushions the valve stem of the bladder.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, I have illustrated a basketball comprising the usual cover consisting of the several leather members 1010 which are stitched together in the usual or any suitable manner. For a short distance, approximately three or four inches, the contiguous margins of a pair of the cover members are left unstitched to provide the bladder insertion opening 11. Disposed adjacent each of the margins of the openin 11 and secured to the inner surfaces of t e contiguous cover members 10 folded back upon itself along its central longitudinal line and disposed adjacent the inner surface of the associated cover member 10 with the folded margin of said strip presented to the opening 11. Strips 12 and 13 are secured to their associated cover members by stitching 14, 15 and 16. Stitchings 11 and 15 pass through the cover members 10 and through both plies of the reenforcing strips 12 or 13, while stitchin 16 merely extends through the cover mem ers and through the outer plies of the reenforcing strips 12 and 13. This construction provides elongated lace-receiving pockets 17 and 18 which are provided with spaced apertures at the folds of the strips 12 and 13, these apertures being designated 17 17, 17, etc., and 18, 18, 18, etc; Adapted to cooperate with the said apertures and the pockets 17 and 18 is a lace 19. The manner in which this lace is passed through the said apertures and pockets will be hereinafter described in detail.

Disposed within the aforesaid cover is a rubber bladder 20 provided with a hollow metal valve stem 21 through which it may be inflated. This valve stem is mounted on the bladder in substantially the same way that an automobile tire stem is mounted on its associated inner tube. Valve stem 21 is relatively short, is provided with external threads 22 and is equipped with the usual or any suitable valve insides, which, of course, comprises a valve seating against pressure from the outside and comprising the usual valve unseating member 23.

Formed in one of the cover members 10 and located adjacent the bladder insertion opening-l1 is a circular aperture 21 which registers with corresponding apertures in both plies of the adjacent reenforcing strip 12, these several apertures, on acount of the three thicknesses of leather through which they extend, affording a passage through the cover which is of a length considerably greater than the distance from the top of the valve stem 21 to the top of the valve unseating member 23.

Disposed adjacent the inner ply of the reenforcing strip 12 is the stem holding and cushioning member which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 4. This member, as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, consists of a rectangular piece of comparatively soft rubber 25 which is molded around an internall threaded sleeve 26 which, in turn, is provi ed with a flan e 27 whereby it is securely anchored in said rubber cushion 25. Element 25 is preferably reenforced by a piece of fabric 28 which is embedded therein and which extends from sleeve 26 to the margins of the cushioning element. The cushioning element is preferably provided with a plane surface 29 to engage the reenforcing strip 12 and with a convex curved surface 30 for engagement with the bladder. Member 26 is preferably thick at its central portion and thins out toward its edges. Attention is directed to the fact that both the sleeve 26 and its flange 27 lie within the plane surface 29 so that any sharp blow against the cover in the vicinity of the said sleeve will be cushioned from such sleeve (and from the bladder valve stem) by the intervening rubber.

The aforesaid valve stem holding and cushioning member is attached to the reenforcing strip 12 with the sleeve 26 in registry with the passage through the cover, the rubber element 25 being stitched in position and also, if desired, having its surface 29 cemented to the inner ply of the reenforcing strip 12. As a means for holding the cushioning element in position, I may use the stitching 14 and 15 which also holds the reenforcing strip 12 in position, or I may use separate stitching extending along the longitudinal margins of the rubber element and extending through the adjacent leather. Stitching also may be extended along the end margins of the cushioning element. In any event, the stitching by which the cushioning elementis held in position should lie 2. suflicient distance away from the margins of the sleeve flange 27 to permit the necessary yielding of the sleeve 25 and the valve stem when the ball is in play. These distances need not be great, but should exist.

Let it be assumed that the bladder 20 is outof the cover and that the lace 19 is also removed from the cover. In preparing the ball for play, the deflated bladder 20 is inserted through the cover opening 11 and the external threads of the valve stem 21 are turned into cooperating engagement with the internal threads of the sleeve 26 of the cushioning element. With the parts 21 and 26 thus properly assembled, the upper end of the valve stem lies in the passage through the leather cover, but lies well within the outer surface of thecover. It is thus free from contact with the hands of a layer or other object the ball may engage, ut is so located that a tire pump may be applied to the stem. The valve stem will usually be provided with internal threads to engage suitable external threads on the coupling member which forms part of the pump.

The lace 19 is now applied, its ends being inserted into the pockets 17 and 18 through the apertures 17 and 18, respectively, and being led through such pockets and out of the apertures 17 and 18*, respectively. The end of the lace thus extended out of the aperture 17 is then led through the aperture 18 and along the pocket 18 to the aperture 17 where it emerges from the pocket 17 and again enters the pocket 18 through the aperture 18. The pxortion of the lace which emerged from t e pocket 17 through the opening 17 similarly enters the ocket 18 through aperture 18, leaves said ast mentioned pocket through aperture 18 and enters pocket 17 through aperture 17. This manner of threading the two portions of the lace through the pockets and pocket aper-' tures is continued across the opening, the two ends of the lace being tied securely together at the left side of the opening (Fig. 3), the knot and the superfluous ends of the lace being tucked down to lie within the cover.

The type of lacing just described is very effective and desirable in connection with a basketball. It draws the opposed edges of the opening 11 tightly together in such a way that the ball is practically as smooth over the opening as it would beif the opening did not exist. Furthermore, no part of the lacing is exposed to view or for contact with the fingers of a player. Moreover, the lacing is so well protected by the reenforcing strips 12 and 13 that it has practically no tendency to chafe the bladder.

After the ball has been laced up as just described, a suitable pump is applied to inflate the bladder. Whenever the ball becomes soft it may again be inflated by the application of the pump to the bladder valve stem.

Having thus illustrated and described a exterior of the cover when said slit is closed,-

reenforcing strips associated with said slit, each of said reenforcing strips being folded upon itself andbeing secured to one of the margins of the insertion opening with its cover and being passed parallel to the slit through said pockets, substantially as described and illustrated. 10

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe. my name this 24th day of May, 1926.

ARCHIBALD J. TURNER 

